Automatic sand valve



Oct. 25,1927.

E. A. LANSRUD AUTOMATIC SAND VALVE Filed April 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

Oct. 25, 1927.

* 1,646,753 E. A. LANSRUD AUTOMATIC SAND VALVE Filed April ll, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 25, i927,

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ENDRE A. LANSR'D, OF DES MOINES, IOVJA.

The object of my ini a sand structure including AUTOMATIC SAND VALVE.

Application `filed April 11, 1925. `Serial No. 22,277.

fention is to provide a valve or series or' valves, the whole being comparatively simple and inexpensive and being adapted for the accurate and easy ing oi sand.

grading and siz- A further object is to provide in connec-I tion with a chute or the like a series oi valves automatically operated .by .the 'lilow of sand and water tor separating the sand into grades and sizes without the using of rolling or other screens or the like.

iVith these and other invention consists objects in view, my

in the construction, are

rangement and combination of they various parts of my. automatic sand structure, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,

pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a de,

vice embodying my inv Figure 2 is a top or ention. plan view ot a portion of the chute equipped with my iinproved valve structure, away.

Figure tional view ure 2.

Figure 4 is a taken on the line Figure 5 is a taken on the line 54-5 deta In the practice ot my J erably use a long, inclined sand and water are carried. shown for instance in Figure parts being broken 3 is a longitudinal, detailed, sectaken on the line3-3 ot Figiled, sectional view 4-4 of Figure 3; and horizontal, sectional view of Figure 4.

invention, I pref'- chute by which The chutel is 1, as indicated by the reference character 10.

For reasons which will be apparent `in the course or' the explanation ot my invention, it is desirable that the chute should be soine what adjustable as from the horizontal. For purposes of shown in the drawings spaced concrete posts porting the chute.

to degree ot inclination illustration, I have herewith a series oi 11, 12 andy 13 for sup- These are .preferably wide enough so that channel irons may be fastened to them in opposite spaced pairs projecting substantially adapted in the case ot on opposite sides of the above the posts and each pair to extend chute 10. rIhe channel irons are indicated by the number14'.

In the particular illustration ot my invention shown herein, posts 11, 12 and 13 oi I `have shown the increasingly greater la worm wheel 25 The channel irons 14 are pre'lerj thereof a pair of cables 18. Each cable 18 l is secured to one side ot the trough and then extended over a pulley 19 on one oi the channel irons `14 of the lower post 1l, thence around the` pulley `2O onv the chute, thence over a pulley 21 on ot 4the nentpost 12, and thence around a pulley 22 on the chute or on one `of the valve hoppers 29, thence over a pulley?) on the channel ot the post 13 and thence around a drum 24 at the upper end of the chute. 'Ihe drum 24 may be actuated by means of and worm 26 and crank 27.

It it is 'desired to raise the chute bodily, this may be done by windingthe cables`18 upon the drums 24.

, By inserting a stop rod through the proper holesrl above the chute at the ripper oi lower ends thereof, then when the cables are tightened, the other end of the chute will be raised lor giving the chute any desired angle of inclination. j v

The chute may be manipulated with a crane or in any suitable way.

At suitable intervals spaced lengthwise the channel iron of the chute, thevbottom of the chute lis provided with an opening 28 from which there entends downwardly a somewhat tapered hopper casing or discharge chute 29.

For regulating the flow o'l sand into each hopper 29, I provide slide valve plates or the like 30 and 31, slidably mountedy on the floor et the chute 10 above and below the hopper 29 under consideration and adapted to slide over the opening 28 tor leaving a discharge opening ot any desired width..-

The plates 31 are provided with fastening bolts 33 which project through longitudinally elongated slots 34 in the bottom oi the chute 1G, Vas shown in Figure 3, and are provided with washers 35 and thumb nuts or the like 36.

Mounted on the lower end of each hopper 29 is a substantially cylindrical casing or valve chamber 37 open at its upper Avided with a central end and having a closed lower end 38 prodownward tubular extension 39, the lower end of which forms a valve seat. l

At the upper end of' the easing member 37 a table 40 capable of limited vertical movement. The table 40 has a central open downwardly extending tubular portion or member 4l extending almost to the lower part of the casing member 37 and open at its lower end. The table 40 stands normallyV about level .with the joint between the casing member 37 andthe hopper 29.

The table 40 is of smaller diameter than the lower end of the hopper'29 and has a flexible member 42 of canvas or the like secured to its edge by means of a clamping plate or the like 43, which is held in lace by means of screw bolts44 or any suita le means.

'The outer edge of the canvas member 42 is clamped between the upper edge of the cas-` ing4 member 37 and the lower edge of the hopper 29, as shown in Figure 3. The flexible connecting member 42 between theV table 40 and the walls of the hopper is so arranged that it has slack when the table is in position level with the outer edge of the flexible member. This permits the table to move to position above or below such outer edge during the operation Vof the device.

Secured to the four corners of the table 40 are upwardly extending converging hangers or arms 45 in the form of rods connected at their upper end by means of a bolt 46.

Supported on the bolt 47 is a rod 47 forming a valve stem on the lower end of which is a valve 48 adjustable on the stem 47 by means of a thumb nut 49 and intended to coact with the valve seat 50 formed at the lower end of the extension 39 of the casing membei' 37. y

On the bolt 46 is a clevis 51 to which is connected a rod V52 which extends upwardly through a fixed sleeve 53 supported by rods 54 on the wallsof the hopper 29. The sleeve 53 extends upwardly above thelevel of the material flowing through the chute 10 and the rod 52' projects upwardly fromfthe` sleeve as shown in Figure 3, and is pivoted at its upper end to a balance arm 55. The balance 'arm 55 is pivotally supported on a bracket 56 on a cross bar 57 at the` top of lthe chute l0. On the balance arm is an adjustable weight 58.

It should perhaps be mentioned that the sliding plate members 30 and 31 are provided with notches 59 to receive the sleeve 53,

' openings 32 of the desired sizes.

that the opening' above any particular hopper 29 may be closed if desired.`

In the practical use of my improved structure, the plates 30 and 3l are adjusted to give The weight 58 is adjusted and when the water and sand flow downwardly'through the chute 10, the coarsest sand will drop into the first or upper hopper, the next size into the next lower hopper and so on. The very finest sand can be taken from the lowermost hopper 29, if desired. p n

I find that it is necessary to keep the valve hopper y29 substantially filled with water. By adjustment of the weight 58, the automatic valve can be set to keep the sand ou the table 40 at any desired weight or depth.

It is desirable, of course, that the sand should pass out in as nearly a steady stream as possible.

. In actual practice7 I adjusting the parts, the 40 will lower the pltaform and thus open the valve v48 for allowing sand to flow through an extension 4l and the extension 39 past the valve, and 'then'the'weight 58`will. raise the find that by properly platform again.

In the aotual'use of this device, there is almost a continuous up and down movement of the platform 40, so that the flow of sand from each hopper is'almost continuous. The hopper 29 is thus kept filled with water and yet the sand is constantly discharging there from.

Adjustment may be had by varying the size of the opening 32 rand urtheradjuStment may bel had by regulating theposition of the weight 58, and a'djustability may be had for varying conditions in different locations byregulating the angle of inclination of the chute 10.

With a little experience, take from any flowing quantity of sand through the different hoppers 29 just the grade of sand desired. v

I find a large number of advantages in the use of the structure herein described.

The grading of the sand is very accurately accomplished. It is done with a minimum of wear on the machinery. Sand can be separated and much cheaper than with the rotating screens which are commonly used. This is espccially true with all fine grades of sand.

I also find it'possible with this device lc separate the fine sand, so that it is in a distinct and separate loody. This has hereto fore been very difficult. The line sand, if entirely unmixed with coarser sand is saleable, but fine sand mixed with coarser Sand does not find a very vready market.

It will be noted that `by providing the automatic valve structure at the lower part of the hopper 29 with the extension 41 into the casing member 37, there willbe no flow of sand until the sand on the table orl platform .4() reaches a certain weight..v j

It may be mentioned that I find in prac tice that the sand 60 does not collect in any great quantity in the casing member 37, but such casing member is always filled with water before sand reaches it.

Changes may be made in the construction sand on the platform Y sto the voperator can graded with this device .i and arrangement of the various parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention. In fact it has been my purpose to illustrate a structure in which my invention may be embodied in and according to which the desired functions may be performed, but it is my purpose to cover by my claims, any such modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, as may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an inclined chute, a tapered hopper therebelow, opening into the chute, means for adjusting the size of the opening between the chute and the hopper, an extension on said hopper, a platform in said hopper having a flexible adjustable connection with the hopper wall and having a central tubular downward extension terminating near the bottom of the hopper extension, a tubular downward extension on said hopper extension forming at its lower end a valve seat, a valve for coacting with said seat,

means for supporting said valve to move with said platform, and a counter-balanced arm for supporting the platform.

2. Ina structure of the class described, an inclined chute, a hopper extending downwardly from the bottom thereof and communicating therewith, means for varying the size of the opening from the chute into the hopper, a movable platform at the lower end of said hopper, a. valve operatively connected with said platform for controlling iiow of material from the bottom of the hopper, and means for regulating the position of said platform according to the weight imposed thereon.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting means, a hopper supported thereon with a central, downwardly projecting tubular extension at its bottom, a iiexible platform received in the hopper having a central, downwardly, extending tubular extension for limiting flow of sand into the hopper below said platform and thus preventing interference with the movement of the platform, means for adjusting the position of said platform, and a valve for said iirst tubular extension movable with the platform.

li. In a device of the class described, a hopper having at its bottom a downwardly projecting tubular outlet passage, a platform in said hopper having a central, substantially rigid portion provided with a central, downwardly extending tubular passage, and having a peripheral iiexible portion, and means for vertically adjusting said platform, and a valve movable with said means for connecting flow from said outlet passage.

5. In a device of the class described, a hopper having at its bottom a downwardly extendingtubular outlet passage, a flexible platform in said hopper having a central, downwardly projecting tubular passage above said iirst passage, a plurality of spaced arms secured to said platform and converging upwardly, means connected with the upper ends of said arms for vertically adjusting the platform, and a valve movable with said platform for controlling flow from said outlet passage.

6. In a device of the class described, an inclined chute, a hopper therebelow communicating therewith, means for regulating the size of the opening between the chute and the hopper, said hopper having an opening at its bottom, a valve for controlling said opening, and means for controlling said valve according to the weight of the material in the hopper, said hopper and valve structure being entirely supported on the chute, and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the chute.

7. In a device of the class described, an

inclined chute, a hopper therebelow communicating therewith, means for regulating the size of the opening between the chute and the hopper, said hopper having an opening at its bottom, a valve for controlling said opening, and means for controlling said valve according tothe weight of material in the hopper, said hopper and valve structure being entirely supported on the chute, said chute being tiltable for varying its angle of inclination.

8. In a device of the class described, a hopper having at its bottom a downwardly extending tubular outlet passage, a flexible platform in said hopper having a central, downwardly projecting tubular passage above said first passage, a plurality of spaced arms secured to said platform and converging upwardly, means connected with the upper ends of said arms for vertically adjusting the platform, a valve movable with said platform for controlling iow from said outlet passage, and a counter-balancing device operatively connected with said means having an adjustable counter-balancing element.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 19, 1925.

ENDRE A. LANSRUI). 

